Power control for agricultural machines



gp 1952 M. A. BERGSTEN ET AL 2,611,279

POWER CONTROL FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES Filed March 51, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS:

MILFORD A. BERGSTEN WILLIAM E. CADE ATT'YS Sept- 23, 1952 M. A. BERGSTENET AL 2,611,279

POWER CONTROL .FoR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES Filed March 51, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3 +3

INVENTORSZ MILFORD A. BERGSTEN \g ILLIAM E. CADE Sept. 23, 1952 M. A.BERGSTEN Em; 2,611,279

POWER CONTROL FOR AGRICULTURAL'MACHINES Filed March 51, 1951 3sheets-sheet;

|NVENTORS MILFORD A. BERGSTEN WILLIAM E. CADE ATT'YS Patented Sept. 23,1952 s YATENT OFFICE :P OWER CONTROL FOR AGRICULTURAL 'MACHINES MilfordA. Bergste'n, East Moline, and William E.

Gade, 'Moline, ;lll., .as'signors toDeere & Company, .Moline, IlL, acorporation "of Illinois Application lviarch 31, 1951, SerialNo..218,'672

'8'Claims. (01.14-24.21)

. I 1 This invention relates to an agricultural machine and moreparticularly to improved means for controlling the source of" powerselectively connectible to and disconn'ectible from croph'andlin'gmechanism of such machine;

A typical-machine of the character referred tois shown in U. S. Patent2,529,180. fIh-i's-machine is a combine of the usual type coordinatingharvesting and threshing operations'in one machine. Although the machine"illustrated in that patent is of the self-propelled type, it is alsoconventional to utilize combines drawn by a tractor or other draftsource. 'Such combines are ordinarily provided with their own powerplantusually in the form of an internal combustion engine. The sameprinciples are app-licable, insofar as powering of the threshingmechanism is concerned, in the stationary.

tightening or loosening a belt trained about the driving and drivenpulleys. It is desirable in this respect to utilize a belt-tightener:means, such as an'idler pulley mounted on a .swingable arm, and it isfurther desirable tocoordinate the swingable farm with the throttle orother "speedregulating device for the engine so that when the idler armis swung to belt-loosening position, the throttle or speed-regulatingdevice will be set at a slow operating position. Conversely, it isdesirable that the coordinationgoi the belt- .tightener means and thespeed-regulating device be such that when the belt is tightened, thespeed-regulating device will be set to a position in which it will bedeterminative of the capacity of the engine to drive the threshingmechanism. Normally, these desirable results may be-achieved in part atleast by simple linkage interconnecting the belt-tightener means and thespeedregulating device. However, the two or more positions in which thespeed-regulating device maybe set are relatively constant, Whereas therange, of movement of the belt-tightener means often varies, because ofchanges in length .of the belt due to weather conditions, for example.Further, as the belt is used, it becomes somewhat 2' longer than when itwas new, thus requiring adjustment of the control means therefor. LThiswill in turn require an adjustment of the linkage connecting thebelt-tightener means with the speed-regulating device. Since thenecessity {for adjustment will occur relatively frequently, fthesituationi's one of considerable *annoyance to the machine operator.This is true primarily in those cases in which the speed-regulatingdevice includes a governor, in "which cases the adjustment is diflicultto make.

According to the presentjinvention, the interconnecting means betweenthe belt-tightening device and the speed-regulating device includesprovision for overtravel sothateven thoughjthe range of necessarymovement of the belt-tightener device or means changesfrom time to time,there ill -be no change in "the range of movement of the settablepart'of the speed-regulating device. It is an important object of theinvention to provide the improved-means in the form of a simple'arrangement that may be readily installed on typical machines ofexisting designs. It is 'a specific object of the invention to utilize aswingable arm having a hub which in turn has a frictional connectionwith an opera-ting element that "is in turn connected to the throttle ofthe speed-regulating device. 1

Other important objects and desirable features inherent in andencompassed by the invention will become apparent as the disclosure of apreferred embodiment'of the invention is fully made in the followingdetailed description and accompanying sheets of drawings in which Figure1 is a fragmentary perspective side "view of the improved drive andcontrol mechanism applied to a machine of the character referred toabove;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing theinterconnection between the belt-tightener means and one of the controlelements for the speed-regulating device;

" Figure 3'is a fragmentary transversesectl'onal view taken on the line3-3 of Figure 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are schematic views showing the control mechanism indifferent stages of operation; and.

Figure 6 is a schematic view showing a representative form ofcrop-handling mechanism with which the invention is concerned.

The machine comprises essentially a body It having'framework l2 whichprovides supporting structure for a power source, here in the form ofaninternal combustion engine M. The rear end of the crankshaft of thisengine is designated by the numeral It, the crankshaft comcylinder isdesignated by the numeral 24 and operates in conjunction with a concave26. A

feeder 28 is illustrated as means for supplyingthe threshing mechanismwith grain. Rearwardly of the cylinder 24 is a separator beater 30carried on a shaft 32 that extendstransversely of the body I and thatprojects outwardly at 4 connection to the lower end of a link 18. Theupper end of the link I8 is connected to an upper portion of theswinging arm 42, as at 19 in Figures 4 and 5.

The arrangement is such that the linkage 12-18 forms an over-center lock(Figure 5) when the control rod 16 is pulled forwardly to its maximumextent. This will cause the idler arm 42 to swing to its maximumbelt-tightening position.

In the schematic illustrations in Figures 4 and 5, the carburetor 20 isshown as having a throttle 80 fixed to a throttle shaft 82. A throttlecontrol arm 84 is fixed to the throttle shaft 82 and has a the same sideas and parallel to the crankshaft I6 of the engine I4.

The threshing mechanism shown in Figure 6 may further include aconventional separator rack or sieve 34.

The end of the beater shaft 32 that'projects at the side of the body I0has keyed thereto a relatively large driven part in the form of a pulley36. Means for selectively establishing or disestablishing drive betweenthe driving pulley I8 and driven pulley 36 comprises an endless fiatbelt 38 and a belt-tightener device designated generally by the numeral40. As shown in Figure 4, when the belt 38 is loose, the driving pulleyI8 may rotate without causing rotation of the driven pulley 36.Conversely, when the belt is tightened, as in Figure 5, drive isestablished between the two pulleys. v

The belt-tightener device comprises aswingable arm 42 on which isrotatably carried an idler pulley 44. The arm- 42 is mounted on one ofthe members of the supporting structure -I2 of the body I0 by meansincluding a relatively short pivot member or stub shaft 46 whichincludes a mounting bracket 48. The pivot member or shaft 46 is thusfixed in position and journals the arm 42 for angular movement by meansof a hub 50 preferably formed integrally with the arm.

As best shown in Figure 3, the hub 50 includes an integral hub extension52 concentric with and surrounding the shaft 46. The hub extension isencircled by a pair of complementary arcuate portions 54 and 56 of anoperating element or lever 58 (Figure 2). The portions 54 and 56respectively have apertured ears 60 and 62 between which a spring-loadedclamping connection is efiected at 64. A band of frictiOn material 66,which may be of any conventional type, encircles the outer surface ofthe hub extension 52 and is encircled by the inner surface of theelement portion 5456 so as to establish a cooperative frictionalconnection between the hub 50 and the operating element 58. Theconnection is such that the element or lever 58 will normally move withthe arm 42, except that relative angular movement between the arm andelement is permitted when necessary.

Drive-actuating means is provided for effecting swinging of the arm 42in either direction about its pivot at 46. This means preferablyincludes a bracket 68 fixed to one of the members of the supportingstructure I2 below the belttightening device 40. This bracket provides apivot 10 which carries one end of a pivot link 12. The other end of thislink is pivotally connected at I4 to a forwardly extending control rodI6. The connection at 14 also includes a link connection at 86 with anarm 88 rockably mounted on the governor 22. The governor constructionmay be convention-a1 and details thereof are omitted. The connectionbetween the link 86 and the governor arm 88 is shown in representativefashion as including an apertured lug 90 on the arm 88 and through whichthe link 86 loosely extends. A compression spring 92 operates betweenone side of the lug 90 and a stop 94 on the link 86. A second stop 96 isprovided on the link 86 at the other side of the lug 90.

A stop 98 may be provided on the governor housing for limiting the "slowposition of the governor arm 88 (Figure 4). The spring 82 may beslightly compressed so that the throttle 80 may be moved to its closedor slow idle" position (Figure 4), in which case the governor arm 88 isstopped by the stop 98 and the stop 96 on the link 86 moves to the leftfrom the lug 90 on the governor arm 88.

An operating element or throttle control arm I00 is loosely carried atone end of the throttle shaft 82. The free end of this arm is connectedby a link I02 to a bell crank I04 which is in turn connected by a linkI06 to the operating arm 58 that is frictionally connected to the idlerarm 42. The bell crank I04 is pivoted at I08 on any suitable bracket IIOcarried by the supporting structure I2 of the body I0.

A lost-motion connection is effected between the throttle control armI00 and the throttle control arm 84. Such connection is shown inrepresentative fashion in Figures 4 and 5 as including an adjustablestop II2, carried by the arm 84 and at times engageable with the armI00.

When the parts are in the "slow idle position shown in Figure 4, themain control rod I6 has been moved in the direction of the arrow A sothat force is transmitted through the connection 50-66 to the operatingelement 58, which in turn causes movement of the linkage I06-I04-I02 inthe direction of the arrow B. This results in the throttle arm I00engaging the stop I I2 and picking up the throttle arm 84, effectingclosing of the throttle and at the same time drawin to the left on thelink 86 to move the governor arm 88 to its "slow position as determinedby the stop 98. This movement will, of course. slightly compress thespring 92 so as to temporarily free the throttle from the governor.

When it is desired to engage the drive between the pulleys I8 and 36,the control rod I6 is moved forwardly, or opposite to the direction ofthe arrow A in Figure 4. This causes reverse swinging of the arm 42 andconsequently movement of the rod I08 in the direction of the arrow C inFigure 5. The loose throttle arm I00 is moved on the shaft 82, but thespring 92 between the link 88 and the governor arm 88 causes the otherthrottle control arm 84 to follow. By the time the link-age I6--I4'I2-18reaches the position of Figure 5 to establish the over-center lock, the

idler M will have sufficiently tightened the. belt 38 so as to establishdrive between the pulleys -|:8 and 36. At the same time, the throttle 80comesunder control of the governor 22, since the angular movement of thethrottle arm I (Figure is sufficient to completely disengage theinter-connection at the stop .I I2. The position of the throttle inFigure .5 may be said to be a fast idle position, in which thespeed-regulating device or governor 22 and carburetor cooperate toincrease the speed of the engine .sufficient to carry the load of thebelt 38, pulley .36, shaft 32,-and separator beater and the partsconnected thereto, one of which is the cylinder 24 as indicated by thedotted-line drive connection I M in Figure 6. I'hereafte-r, whenmate-rial "is fed to the threshing mechanism, the governor 22automatically opens the throttle further to increase the capacity of the[engine in accordance with the load imposed thereon, as is conventional.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the frictional or over-travelconnection between the arm 42 and the operating element 53 is such thatin the'event that the angular range of movement of the arm 42 becomesgreater than that forwhich the parts are originally set, such overtravelmay be permitted without interfering with the adjustment or operation ofthe speed-regulating device; This result follows because when the stop96 on the link 86 between the canburetor and governor-reaches theposition of Figure 5, there is set up a stopped condition determined inpartby engine speed and by load imposed on the threshing mechanism.Therefore, the arm 42- maybe swung farther inabelt-tightening"direotionwithout afiecting the governor, since thefrictional connection-will allow for slippage.

Another characteristic of the frictional connection is that it hassufficient force-transmitting ability to pick up the throttle controllinkage immediately. That is, as soon as it is desired to return theidler arm #2 to the position of Figure 4, initial movement of the arm 42in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 4) causes the linkI06 to operate through, the bell crank Hi4 and linlg [82 to immediatelymove the throttle'control arm I'M likewise in a counterclockwisedirection until it picks up the throttle arm M by means of the stop H2."Since dislen gagement of the drive by means of releasing the belt 38viathe loosened idler 44 results in lightening of the load on the engine[4, the governor arm 88 will move immediately toward the positiondetermined by the stop 98. Thereafter, the now established connection atH2 between the arms It!) and 84 will be effective to move the throttleto the slow idle position of Figure 4.

Various features and important objects of the invention not specificallyenumerated herein will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, aslikewise will numerous modifications and alterations in the preferredembodiment of the invention disclosed, all of which may be accomplishedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an agricultural crop-handling machine, the combination of: acrop-handling body including supporting structure; variable speed powermeans on the body including a rotatable drive pulley; a speed-regulatingdevice connected to the power means and having a control member movableselectively between a first position and a second position determinativerespectively of slow and fast rotation of the drive pulley;

'rcrop'handling mechanism carried by 1 the; body and including arotatable driven-pulley; an endless belt trained about the pulleys andofsuch length as to require tightening to establish drive between thepulleys;v belt-tightner means .engag'eab'le with the belt;means'carrying th-e belttighte'ner means ion the. .body for selectiveshift ing 'through a r-ange including axfirst position; in which thebelt is loose aboutthe pulleysy'and -.a second position, in =whi'chthebelt is'tight==about the pulleys; a first operating element, connectedat one end to the control m'embe-r of thespe'ed regulating device; asecond operatingelement connected-to the first element iormovement ofthe 'two-togetherto change the position'of the control'member; and meansconnecting the-sec- 0nd element to the belt-'tightener'meanstonmovmgsaid elements in accordance with shifting of the"Qbelt-tightener means to cause movement or the control -memberalterna-tly to'its firstposh tion or its second position respectivelyias inci dents tdshifting of the belt-tightener mea-n's to it's first orsecond positions;said connecting'means includii'lg africtionalforce-transmitting connec tion providing for overshi-fting ofthe 'belttight ener means beyond the range of shiftingthereof requiredto change the position of the control member. s I p I I '2. Theinvention defined in claim' 1, further characterized in that: the belt-tighten'er means includes a .swingablearinjthe mounting means includes"a pivot carrying the arm for swinging; the second operating element isarrangedfo'r angular movement about saidpivot; andthe fric tiona'l forcetransi'riitting" connectiongfincludes cooperative interengag'ingfriction members, one on the arm and yonebn the second operatingelement.

3.- "Ihe invention defined inclalrnlyfurther characterized in that: the'b'eltj-tighte'ner means includes a 'swingable arm having a hub; themounting means includes a shaft fixed to the body and rockably carryingthe hub; the second operating element has a portion encircling thehumans the frictional force-transmitting con nection'includescooperative, interengaging frictionfmembers concentricabout the axis ofthe mounting shaft and respectively on the outer surface of the'hub andthe innersurface of the encircling Portion of said second operatingelement; 1g I ii. If

' In an agricultural crop-handling machine, the combination fofz' acrop-handlingfbody including supporting structure; variable speed powermeans on the body including a rotatable drive pulley; a speed-regulatingdevice connected to the power means and having a control member movableselectively between a first position and a second position determinativerespectively of slow and fast rotation of the drive pulley; crophandlingmechanism carried by the body and including a rotatable driven pulley;an endless belt trained about the pulleys and of such length as torequire tightening to establish drive between the pulleys;belt-tightener means engageable with the belt; means carrying thebelttightener means in the body for selective shifting through avariable range including a first position, in which the belt is looseabout the pulleys, and a second position, in which the belt is tightabout the pulleys; a first operating element, connected at one end tothe control member of the speed-regulating device; a second operatingelement connected to the first element for moveof the control member;and means connecting the second element to the belt-tightener means formoving said elements in accordance with shifting of the belt-tightenermeans to cause movement of the control member alternately to its firstposition or its second position respectively as incidents to shifting ofthe belt-tightener means to its first or second positions, saidconnecting means including a force-transmitting connection havingprovision for overtravel of the belt-tightener means beyond the range ofshifting thereof required to change the position of the control member.

5. In an agricultural crop-handling machine, the combination of: acrop-handling body including supporting structure; variable speed powermeans on the body including a rotatable drive pulley; a speed-regulatingdevice connected to the power means and having a control member movableselectively between a first position and a second position determinativerespectively of slow and fast rotation of the drive pulley;crop-handling mechanism carried by the body and including a rotatabledriven pulley; an endless belt trained about the pulleys and of suchlength as to require tightening to establish drive between the pulleys;belt-tightener means engageable with the belt; means carryingthe-belttightener means on the body for selective shifting through avariable range including a first position, in which the belt is looseabout the pulleys, and a second position, in which the belt is tightabout the pulleys; and means connecting the control member to thebelt-tightener means for causing movement of the control memberalternately to its first position or its second position respectively asincidents to shifting of the belt-tightener means to its first or secondpositions, said connecting means including a force-transmittingconnection having provision for over-travel of the belt-tightener meansbeyond the range of shifting thereof required to change the position ofthe control member.

6. In an agricultural crop-handling machine, the combination of: acrop-handling body including supporting structure; variable speed powermeans on the body including a drive part; a' speed-regulating deviceconnected to the power means and having a control member movableselectively between a first position and a second position determinativerespectively of slow and fast operation of the drive part; crop-handlingmechanism carried by the body and including a driven part; selectivelyengageable and disengageable drive means between the drive and drivenparts; drive-actuating means for actuating the drive means; meansmounting the driveactuating means on the body for selective shiftingthrough a range including a first position, in which the drive means isdisengaged, and a second position, in which said drive means is engaged;and means operatively' connecting the control member of thespeed-regulating device and the drive-actuating means for causingmovement of the control member alternately to its first position or itssecond position respectively as incidents to shifting of thedrive-actuating means t its first or second positions, said connectingmeans including a two-way, force-transmitting connection havingprovision for overtravel of the drive-actuating means in both directionsbeyond the range of shifting thereof required to change the position ofthe control member.

'7. For an agricultural machine having a body carrying a variable speedpower source driving a drive pulley that is belt-connected to a drivenpulley and further including a speed-regulating device for the powersource; a belt-tightener and speed-regulating means, comprising: a pivotmember having means for fixed mounting thereof on the body of themachine between the pulleys; a swingable arm, having means forengagement with the belt, rockably carried by the pivot to selectivelyeffect loosening and tightening of the belt; an operating elementarranged fo angular movement about the pivot and connectible tothespeed-regulating device; and force-transmitting means interconnectingthe arm and element for movement normally together, saidforce-transmitting means including cooperative, interengaging frictionmembers, one on the arm and one on the element to provide for movementof said arm at times relativ to said element.

8. The invention defined in claim 7, further characterized in that: thepivot member comprises a fixed shaft; the swingable arm has a hub looseon the shaft; the element has a portion encircling thehub; and thefriction members are concentric about the shaft, one on the outersurface of the hub and the. other on the inner surface of the encirclingportion of the element.

MILFORD A. BERGS'I'EN. WILLIAM E. CADE.

No references cited.

